Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra review: breathtaking hardware held back by Android

Last month, I tested Samsung’s biggest Android tablet, the Tab S8 Ultra. With an amazing hardware build, it’s likely to appeal to the creative niche market.

I always thought the size of the 12.9-inch iPad was too big for a tablet. But after owning one for a few months, I found it to be fantastic for working on the go. And the latest iPadOS 16 beta improves its functionality. This significantly complicates Samsung’s task of attracting the tablet-loving audience. But then, imagine that if the iPad 12.9 inches is indeed a very large tablet, the Tab S8 Ultra is even wider, more than an inch and a half.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra – Best prices:

I love using Samsung DeX with the tablet, especially now that it has full second screen support for VMware. Samsung’s Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is clearly built for work, and Samsung is pushing Android to its limits with app optimizations and DeX support. However, Android’s limitations can still be a little frustrating, especially when apps come in the form of a small phone or only work in portrait orientation on a device that spends most of its time in landscape mode.

The S Pen comes with the Tab S8 Ultra and attaches magnetically to the back of the tablet. It also charges wirelessly since it supports Bluetooth functions and Air Actions. As a reminder, an S Pen costs 60 euros. And you can only buy the tablet with 5G cellular functionality in the S8 Plus variant, which probably makes it the best Android tablet for most people.

Technical characteristics

• Processor : Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1
• Display : 14.6 inches, with a resolution of 2960 x 1848 pixels
• Operating system : Android 12 with OneUI 4.1
• RAM: 8/12/16 GB
• Storage : 128/256/512 GB with microSD card support
• Cameras: 13 MP main camera and 6 MP ultra-wide rear camera, dual 12 MP front cameras
• Connectivity: WiFi 6E 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/ax, Bluetooth 5.2
• Audio: four speakers tuned by AKG with Dolby Atmos technology, three microphones
• Battery : 11,200mAh
• Dimensions: 326.4 x 208.5 x 5.6mm and 726
• Color : anthracite

The hardware of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra tablet

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is available in one color, anthracite, which will make your choice easier. Sadly, there’s also no option for 5G connectivity, a big oversight for a large tablet that rivals the price and size of laptops.

The main feature of the Tab S8 Ultra is clearly the stunning 14.6-inch Super AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. that time. The bezels around the screen are very narrow, with a tiny notch supporting the two front cameras. These cameras support dynamic panning during video calls, so you’re always in view of the caller.

Samsung has done a lot bigger in 2022 with the S8 Ultra. Image: Matthew Miller/ZDNet.

The power and volume buttons are on the top left side (in landscape orientation). A USB-C port is positioned in the center of the right side. The four stereo speakers are at the top and bottom of the left and right sides. The connection pins for the keyboard are at the bottom.

Unlike the smaller Tab S8, which has the fingerprint sensor in the power button, an in-screen sensor is used on the S8 Ultra. It’s similar to what we see on high-end Samsung Galaxy smartphones, but I’m not a fan as I can never get consistent, reliable performance from these sensors, and I much prefer the button to power supply serves this function.

Front-facing cameras on tablets are perfect for today’s world where we spend hours making video calls and having two in the front that support auto-framing that zooms and adjusts to keep you in the frame is great. The rear cameras are pretty much only useful for scanning documents, so having two on the back isn’t that necessary.

The S Pen and rear cameras are in the top right. Image: Matthew Miller/ZDNet.

A long, oblong, glossy black section sits to the left of the cameras and serves as the S Pen’s charging station. Unlike Apple, Samsung includes the S Pen in the tablet package, which is a significant cost saving for the customer and encourages the use of the stylus.

Accessory Book Cover Keyboard

The Book Cover Keyboard is sold separately for 350 euros. But for a device like the S8 Ultra, it’s an essential accessory to optimize the tablet experience. If you’re an artist and you’re going to be spending all your time with the S Pen on the large 14.6-inch canvas, then you won’t need the keyboard. However, pretty much everyone else who uses the S8 Ultra needs the keyboard cover.

This accessory comes in two parts, with the back piece magnetically attaching to the back of the tablet. It has a cool cover that keeps the S Pen securely attached to the back of the tablet. It also has a great hinge that spans the full width of the tablet, just like a Microsoft Surface Pro, so you can angle the tablet a very wide range of degrees to use it. exactly as you want.

The keyboard has large keys and a large trackpad. Image: Matthew Miller/ZDNet.

The keys are large and well spaced, with good travel. The keys are also backlit, allowing you to use them in low light conditions. A function key lets you quickly toggle DeX mode on and off, which is important for a Samsung tablet, and perform a number of other functions. Three custom app buttons are available so you can assign your most used apps to the dedicated F1, F2 and F3 buttons. Press F2 to see a list of keyboard shortcuts available with this combo.

There are six rows of keys, including a top row of functions. The width of the tablet, in landscape orientation, is sufficient to provide a comfortable typing experience. The trackpad is quite large and multi-finger gestures are fully supported. However, you may inadvertently press the palm of your hand, and the fact that the hinge connecting the keyboard to the tablet is flexible does not help.

The case offers a long hinge similar to that of a Surface Pro device. Image: Matthew Miller/ZDNet.

This cover does not protect the edges of the tablet, but the back and the screen are well covered. The magnets that connect the keyboard to the tablet are strong, so you can hold the tablet, and the keyboard will stay attached.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra tablet software

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra launched with Android 12 and OneUI 4.1, so it runs on the latest Android software. Samsung DeX has also been improved, so you can switch or live in DeX and have a laptop-equivalent tablet in your hands.

I’m getting tired of Google ignoring Android on tablets, and there are still a few problematic apps. For example, Instagram only appears full screen in portrait orientation, but Samsung has put a lot of effort into optimizing the tablet experience. He does everything he can to make the experience bearable.

All Samsung apps work great on the tablet, and many are also optimized to show split-screen views for better productivity. Google also optimizes some apps, such as Gmail and Google Maps, for the tablet screen. However, basic apps like Google Discover don’t take advantage of the tablet screen and display article thumbnails in a central two-column format. Google should optimize the full display and provide a better experience on the tablet. It seems that Google has done very little to improve Android’s tablet experience.

Many developers provide great experiences for tablets. Microsoft does a solid job with some of its apps, like Outlook, Office, ToDo, and OneNote, but others, like Teams, can be improved. It is now possible to synchronize Samsung Notes with OneNote, which encourages me to use the S Pen even more.

You can set up the ability to sync your calls and texts between your Samsung phone and the Tab S8 Ultra, which is great for maintaining workflow no matter what device I’m working with. It’s a similar experience to what iPhone owners see with a connected iPad.

Daily experiences and conclusions

When Samsung first announced the new Tab S8 lineup, I was excited about the possibilities of the S8 Ultra. However, after using this large-screen Android tablet for a month, it became clear that Google needs to improve its core tablet software. Samsung has worked hard to optimize its apps for tablets, but not all developers have embraced the big screen of tablets.

The hardware itself is stunning, and it was a joy to use the monstrous Super AMOLED display with mini bezels. I love that Samsung includes the S Pen in the box as well. The keyboard, while pricey, is great when used in laptop mode and essential for being productive on the tablet. I also like that the keyboard can be removed for easier gaming and watching videos with the hinged kickstand. It’s too long and tall for easy tablet use (note taking, ebook reading, occasional content consumption), and I still hate the in-screen fingerprint reader. The absence of a 5G version is also regrettable.

Besides the size of the tablet, people who sketch or draw should appreciate the S Pen and the large screen. The storage of the S Pen on the back may not be optimal, as it may fall out and not be charged if you put the tablet on a table without using a case.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a great demonstration of Samsung’s technical innovation, but the S8 and S8 Plus will probably suit more users. When upgrading to a tablet of this size and price, a full-fledged laptop is a better option than a tablet with an operating system that isn’t fully featured and optimized for the tablet form factor. .

Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra – Best prices:

Source: ZDNet.com